Who ( The ) - Substitute

First performance: 17/01/1990

Coverinfo

bruce performed the song only once:
 
 
1990-01-17 Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, New York City, NY 
  
Rock and Roll Hall Of Fame all-star jam. Bruce shares lead vocals on "Long Tall Sally" with John Fogerty, and plays guitar and sings backing vocals on the rest of the songs. Inducted into the Hall Of Fame are Hank Ballard, Bobby Darin, The Four Seasons, Four Tops, The Kinks, The Platters, Simon & Garfunkel, and The Who. 
 
 
Pro-shot video available. Audio of "Substitute", "Won't Get Fooled Again", "Pinball Wizard", and "Goodnite, Sweetheart, Goodnite" was officially released in 2011 on the compilation album Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, Vol. 1: 1986-1991 (Live), and video of "I Can't Help Myself (Sugar Pie, Honey Bunch)", Substitute", "Won't Get Fooled Again", and "Pinball Wizard" is available on the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame Live DVD. 
 
 
 

Songinfo

"Substitute" is a song by the English rock band the Who, written by Pete Townshend. Released in March 1966. "Substitute" was primarily inspired by the 1965 soul single "The Tracks of My Tears" by Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Pete Townshend became obsessed, particularly, with the line, "Although she may be cute/She's just a substitute." This had then led Townshend "to celebrate the word with a song all its own." For the American single, released in April 1966, the line in the chorus "I look all white but my dad was black" was changed to "I try walking forward but my feet walk back."
 
 
 

Other cover versions

Bruce on the artist

Lyrics

You think we look pretty good together
You think my shoes are made of leather
But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just back-dated, yeah
Substitute your lies for fact
I can see right through your plastic mac
I look all white, but my dad was black
My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
Substitute me for him
Substitute my coke for gin
Substitute you for my mum
At least I'll get my washing done
But I'm a substitute for another guy
I look pretty tall but my heels are high
The simple things you see are all complicated
I look pretty young, but I'm just backdated, yeah
I was born with a plastic spoon in my mouth
The north side of my town faced east, and the east was facing south
And now you dare to look me in the eye
Those crocodile tears are what you cry
It's a genuine problem, you won't try
To work it out at all you just pass it by, pass it by
Substitute me for him
Substitute my coke for gin
Substitute you for my mum
At least I'll get my washing done
Substitute your lies for fact
I can see right through your plastic mac
I look all white, but my dad was black
My fine-looking suit is really made out of sack